Guard Duty

Today the gates were fortified, first time since I've been here. 
The razor wire and barricades help to justify my fear. 

Half the city went dark last night and now it's dark again. 
And I can feel the cold of war, it’s slowly creeping in. 

I've never seen a night so dark with stars afraid to shine. 
Or felt a fear that starts to shear the fabric of my mind. 

"No one enters", "Shoot to kill", my orders weren't candy coated. 
So I stand here in full battle gear, rifle locked and loaded. 

My nerves are shot, I try to swallow but the lump is getting bigger. 
One hand calms my beating heart and one hands on the trigger.
 
If this goes down I pray to God, "please Lord let me be spared". 
'cause prayings all I know to do, I've never been this scared. 

The sounds of war are closer now, closer than they've been before. 
And I'm prepared to fight the fight, should hell come to my door.
 
No one enters be him friend or foe, unless I give a yes. 
And "halt" is just a four letter word between life and death. 

My mind drifts for a moment but a moments all I need. 
To ask myself with all I've seen and felt, is this place changing me? 

When I leave here and I go home, who will people see? 
Will I be someone they don't know, or who I used to be? 

I'm not sure I know myself, this place can take it's toll. 
But I play the hand that I was dealt and I didn't come to fold. 

I'll go all in if that's what it takes, I came prepared to fight. 
So I'd stay clear and don't come 'round here, 
While I'm on watch tonight.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2007


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter